Suspended pipe assembly

ABSTRACT

A suspended pipe assembly comprising a first suspended pipe, a second suspended pipe, a third suspended pipe, and a number of suspenders for suspending the pipes from an elevated pipe or pipes of a mobile irrigation system or other fluid distribution system. The first suspended pipe and second suspended pipe are connected together via a fixed joint. The second suspended pipe and third suspended pipe are connected together via a live joint such that the second suspended pipe and third suspended pipe can expand longitudinally relative to each other. Additional suspended pipes can be connected to each other via alternating fixed and live joints. The suspenders allow the suspended pipes to expand longitudinally relative to the elevated pipe and prevents the suspended pipes from warping side-to-side.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation and claims priority benefitwith regard to all common subject matter of earlier-filednon-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/626,528, filed onJun. 19, 2017, and entitled “SUSPENDED PIPE ASSEMBLY”. application Ser.No. 15/626,528 claims priority benefit with regard to all common subjectmatter of non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/287,112,filed on Oct. 6, 2016, and entitled “SUSPENDED PIPE ASSEMBLY”. Theabove-identified non-provisional patent applications are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties into the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND

The fluid carrying pipes of irrigation systems are often made ofgalvanized steel or other metals. Some source water has high pH levelsand/or contains chemicals, minerals, or other deposits which can causesuch metal pipes to corrode and potentially leak. To alleviate this,irrigation systems may be retrofitted with PVC or plastic pipes.However, because it is impractical to replace the existing metal pipeswith PVC or plastic pipes, the PVC or plastic pipes are often suspendedfrom the existing metal pipes and the water or other fluid is channeledthrough the suspended pipes.

Both the metal pipes and the suspended plastic pipes expand and contractlongitudinally due to changes in temperature. Unfortunately, the plasticpipes expand and contract at a different rate than the metal pipes.Thus, the suspended pipes often undergo side-to-side buckling, warping,or “snaking” as they expand, which induces stresses on the irrigationsystems and the suspended pipes and may create leaks near sprinkleropenings along the suspended pipes. Another problem with suspending PVCor plastic pipes from existing metal pipes is that a distance over whichthe suspended pipes can cover is limited by the maximum availablelengths of PVC or plastic pipes.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems andprovide a distinct advance in suspended pipe assemblies for irrigationsystems. More particularly, the invention provides a suspended pipeassembly that can be expanded to any length of irrigation system anddoes not buckle, warp, or “snake” side to side when expanding orcontracting due to temperature changes.

An embodiment of the suspended pipe assembly broadly comprises a firstpipe section, a second pipe section, a fixed joint connecting the firstand second pipe sections together, a third pipe section, a live jointconnecting the second and third pipe sections together, and a number ofsuspenders for suspending the pipe sections from an irrigation system.

The first pipe section is configured to be suspended from a first spanpipe of the irrigation system, the second pipe section is configured tobe suspended from a second span pipe adjacent the first span pipe, andthe third pipe section is configured to be suspended from a third spanpipe adjacent the second span pipe. All three suspended pipe sectionsmay include sprinkler openings for connecting sprinklers along the pipesections and may be formed of polyethylene (poly), plastic, or any othersuitable material that is resistant to corrosion and other deteriorationdue to chemicals in the fluid, chemicals in the environment,electrochemical reactions, mechanical stress, and wear and tear.

The fixed joint prevents the connected ends of the first suspended pipesection and second suspended pipe section from shifting longitudinallyrelative to each other. The fixed joint may also prevent the connectedends of the first suspended pipe section and second suspended pipesection from shifting longitudinally relative to the first and secondspan pipes. The fixed joint may be a heat weld, a bracket, a clamp, orany other suitable fixed joint.

The live joint allows the connected ends of the second suspended pipesection and third suspended pipe section to translate or shift relativeto each other so that the second suspended pipe section and thirdsuspended pipe section can expand and contract longitudinally withoutside-to-side buckling, warping, or “snaking”. The live joint may alsospace the connected ends of the second suspended pipe section and thirdsuspended pipe section from each other even at their maximumdisplacement (i.e., closest proximity) so that they cannot contact eachother. The live joint may be a telescoping joint, clamp andboot-and-coupler joint, expanding bellows joint, flexible joint,flexible conduit, or any other suitable live joint.

The suspenders support the pipe sections below the span pipes and eachbroadly comprises an upper bracket, a lower bracket, and a link. Theupper bracket is connected to one of the span pipes and may be a clamp,clip, clevis, or any other suitable connecting element. The upperbracket may be fixed to one of the span pipes so that its position doesnot shift relative to upper brackets of the other suspenders.

The lower bracket is connected to one of the suspended pipe sections andmay be a clamp, clip, clevis, or any other suitable connecting element.The lower bracket may be fixed to one of the suspended pipe sections sothat it only shifts relative to other lower brackets due to thelongitudinal expansion and contraction of the suspended pipe sections.

The link connects the upper bracket to the lower bracket via upper andlower fasteners. The upper fastener may allow the link to pivot onlyabout a single axis extending horizontally perpendicular to the elevatedpipe and the lower fastener may allow the link to pivot only about asingle axis extending horizontally perpendicular to the suspended pipes.That is, the link may be allowed to pivot only in a vertically extendingplane extending parallel to the elevated pipe. The fasteners may bepins, bolts, hinges, hooks, clips, or any other suitable connectors. Thelinks may have equal lengths such that the suspended pipes are offsetfrom the elevated pipe an equal amount. Each link may be a rigid flatbar, tube, beam, any other suitable member.

The above-described suspended pipe assembly provides many advantagesover conventional systems. For example, the suspended pipe assemblyprevents the suspended pipe sections from buckling side-to-side,warping, or “snaking”, which reduces the formation of leaks near thesprinkler openings and other connection points. To effect this, thelinks of the suspenders will pivot along the vertically extending planevia the fasteners such that the suspended pipe sections expandlongitudinally and not laterally.

Another advantage over conventional systems is that the suspended pipeassembly can be expanded to include any number of suspended pipesections with alternating fixed joints and live joints such that eachsuspended pipe section is fixed to an adjacent suspended pipe section orother fluid-carrying component at one end and connected to an adjacentsuspended pipe section or other fluid-carrying component via a livejoint at its other end. The fixed joint may be made on-site, whichsimplifies transportation and assembly of the above components. In someembodiments, the links of the suspenders may all be the same length sothat the suspended pipes follow a curvature of the elevated pipe.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspended pipe assembly constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention and installed on acenter-pivot irrigation system;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp and boot-and-couplerlive joint of the suspended pipe assembly; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of a suspender and apipe section of the suspended pipe assembly.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention references theaccompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is definedonly by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Turning to the drawing figures, a suspended pipe assembly 10 constructedin accordance with an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. Thesuspended pipe assembly 10 is especially configured for use withcenter-pivot irrigation systems, linear move irrigation systems,stationary irrigation systems, or any fluid distribution system in whichwater, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, oil, gas, sludge, or otherfluids (hereinafter “fluids”) passing through the fluid distributionsystem may corrode or otherwise degrade pipes of the fluid distributionsystem. For example, the suspended pipe assembly 10 may be used forextending the life of an irrigation system 100 (described below).

Embodiments of the irrigation system 100 will first be described indetail with reference to FIG. 1. The illustrated irrigation system 100is a center-pivot system but the principles of the present invention arealso applicable to linear and lateral move irrigation systems,stationary irrigation systems, and any other types of irrigation andfluid delivery systems. The irrigation system 100 broadly comprises acentral pivot 102 and a plurality of pivot sections 104. The irrigationsystem 100 may also include a cantilever extension and/or an end gun.

The central pivot 102 distributes water or other fluids to the pivotsections 104 and may be a tower, a standpipe, or the like. The centralpivot 102 may include a support structure for withstanding radial loads,axial loads, and twisting loads, a non-rotatable vertically extendingpipe, and a rotatable elbow. The non-rotatable vertically extending pipecarries the fluids to an elevated height. The rotatable elbow connectsthe pivot sections 104 to the non-rotatable vertically extending pipesuch that the pivot sections 104 are free to pivot about the centralpivot 102 while remaining connected thereto.

The pivot sections 104 broadly comprise a support tower 106, ahorizontally extending span 108, and a plurality of sprinklers 110. Thesupport towers 106 may include an “A-frame” or similar structure forsupporting an end of one of the spans 108, a number of wheels connectedto the A-frame for traversing across a field, and a motor for poweringthe wheels. The spans 108 connect adjacent support towers together andeach includes a truss structure 112 and a span pipe (first span pipe114, second span pipe 116, and third span pipe 118 are illustrated). Thetruss structure 112 provides strength and rigidity to one of the spanpipes 114, 116, 118 and may include frame members, cross beams, braces,and other structural members. The span pipes 114, 116, 118 may beconfigured to carry fluids radially from the central pivot 102 and maybe formed of galvanized or un-galvanized steel, aluminum, or any othersuitable material. The span pipes 114, 116, 118 may be upward archingfor supporting weight of the fluids.

The sprinklers 110 are connected to pipes of the suspended pipe assembly10 (described below) and spaced from each other for delivering water orother irrigation fluids to a field or other area being irrigated. Thesprinklers 110 may have previously been connected directly to the spanpipes 114, 116, 118.

The cantilever extension or end gun extends from a radially outward-mostpivot section and increases the distribution area of the irrigationsystem 100. The extension may be retractable or pivotable relative tothe outward-most pivot section. The extension may be tapered and/or orupward arching for withstanding cantilever forces.

The suspended pipe assembly 10 will now be described in detail. Thesuspended pipe assembly 10 broadly comprises a first suspended pipesection 12, a second suspended pipe section 14, a fixed joint 16, athird suspended pipe section 18, a live joint 20, and a number ofsuspenders 22.

The first suspended pipe section 12 extends substantially parallel tothe first span pipe 114 and includes opposed first and second ends 24,26 and a first plurality of sprinkler openings 28 spaced between thefirst and second ends 24, 26. The first end 24 may be connected to afluid source, another elevated pipe, or another suspended pipe section.The second end 26 may be connected to the second suspended pipe section14. The sprinkler openings 28 allow some of the sprinklers 110 to beconnected to the first suspended pipe section 12 at predeterminedintervals for delivering fluid along a first swath. The first suspendedpipe section 12 may be suspended between approximately six inches andthirty-six inches below the first span pipe 114 so as to follow an archof the first span pipe 114. In one embodiment, the first suspended pipesection 12 may be suspended fifteen inches below the first span pipe114. Alternatively, the first suspended pipe section 12 may be suspendedhorizontally below the first span pipe 114. The first suspended pipesection 12 may be formed of polyethylene (poly), plastic, or any othersuitable material and may be resistant to corrosion and otherdeterioration due to chemicals in the fluid, chemicals in theenvironment, electrochemical reactions, mechanical stress, and wear andtear.

The second suspended pipe section 14 extends substantially parallel tothe second span pipe 116 and includes opposed first and second ends 30,32 and a second plurality of sprinkler openings 34. The first end 30 maybe connected to the second end 26 of the first suspended pipe section 12via the fixed joint 16 (described below) such that the second end 26 ofthe first suspended pipe section 12 and the first end 30 of the secondsuspended pipe section 14 do not shift or translate relative to eachother. The sprinkler openings 34 allow some of the sprinklers 110 to beconnected to the second suspended pipe section 14 at predeterminedintervals for delivering fluid along a second swath. The secondsuspended pipe section 14 may be suspended between approximately sixinches and thirty-six inches below the second span pipe 116 so as tofollow an arch of the second span pipe 116. In one embodiment, thesecond suspended pipe section 14 may be suspended fifteen inches belowthe second span pipe 116. Alternatively, the second suspended pipesection 14 may be suspended horizontally below the second span pipe 116.The second suspended pipe section 14 may be formed of polyethylene(poly), plastic, or any other suitable material and may be resistant tocorrosion and other deterioration due to chemicals in the fluid,chemicals in the environment, electrochemical reactions, mechanicalstress, and wear and tear.

The fixed joint 16 connects the second end 26 of the first suspendedpipe section 12 and the first end 30 of the second suspended pipesection 14 and prevents the second end 26 of the first suspended pipesection 12 and the first end 30 of the second suspended pipe section 14from shifting longitudinally relative to each other. The fixed joint 16may also prevent the second end 26 of the first suspended pipe section12 and the first end 30 of the second suspended pipe section 14 fromshifting longitudinally relative to the first and second span pipes 114,116. The fixed joint 16 may be a heat weld, a bracket, a clamp, or anyother suitable fixed joint.

The third suspended pipe section 18 extends substantially parallel tothe third span pipe 118 and includes opposed first and second ends 36,38 and a third plurality of sprinkler openings 40. The first end 36 maybe connected to the second end 32 of the second suspended pipe section14 via a live joint 20 (described below). The second end 38 of the thirdsuspended pipe section 18 may be connected to another suspended pipesection, an outlet, a fluid dispenser, or any other desiredfluid-carrying component via a fixed joint or a live joint. Thesprinkler openings 40 allow some of the sprinklers 110 to be connectedto the second suspended pipe section 14 at predetermined intervals fordelivering fluid along a third swath. The third suspended pipe section18 may be suspended between approximately six inches and thirty-sixinches below the third span pipe 118 so as to follow an arch of thethird span pipe 118. In one embodiment, the third suspended pipe section18 may be suspended fifteen inches below the third span pipe 118.Alternatively, the third suspended pipe section 18 may be suspendedhorizontally below the third span pipe 118. The third suspended pipesection 18 may be formed of polyethylene (poly), plastic, or any othersuitable material and may be resistant to corrosion and otherdeterioration due to chemicals in the fluid, chemicals in theenvironment, electrochemical reactions, mechanical stress, and wear andtear.

The live joint 20 connects the second end 32 of the second suspendedpipe section 14 and the first end 36 of the third suspended pipe section18 and allows the second end 32 of the second suspended pipe section 14and the first end 36 of the third suspended pipe section 18 to translaterelative to each other. This ensures that the second suspended pipesection 14 and the third suspended pipe section 18 can expand andcontract longitudinally without side-to-side buckling, warping, or“snaking”. The live joint 20 may space the second end 32 of the secondsuspended pipe section 14 and the first end 36 of the third suspendedpipe section 18 from each other even at their maximum displacement sothat they cannot contact each other. The live joint 20 may be a clampand boot-and-coupler joint (FIG. 2), telescoping joint, expandingbellows joint, flexible joint, flexible conduit, or any other suitablelive joint.

The suspenders 22 support the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 andeach may comprise an upper bracket 42, a lower bracket 44, and a link46, as shown in FIG. 3. The upper bracket 42 is connected to one of thespan pipes 114, 116, 118 and may be a clamp, clip, clevis, or any othersuitable connecting element. The upper bracket 42 may be fixed to one ofthe span pipes 114, 116, 118 so that its position does not shiftrelative to upper brackets of the other suspenders.

The lower bracket 44 is connected to one of the suspended pipe sections12, 14, 18 and may be a clamp, clip, clevis, or any other suitableconnecting element. The lower bracket 44 may be fixed to one of thesuspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18, so that it only shifts relative toother lower brackets due to the longitudinal expansion and contractionof the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18.

The link 46 connects the upper bracket 42 to the lower bracket 44 andmay be pivotably attached to the upper bracket 42 via an upper fastener48 positioned near an upper end of the link 46 and pivotably attached tothe lower bracket 44 via a lower fastener 50 positioned near a lower endof the link 46. The upper fastener 48 may allow the link 46 to pivotonly about a single axis extending horizontally perpendicular to one ofthe span pipes 114, 116, 118 and the lower fastener 50 may allow thelink 46 to pivot only about a single axis extending horizontallyperpendicular to one of the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18. That is,the link 46 may be allowed to pivot only in a vertically extending planeextending parallel to one of the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18. Thefasteners 48, 50 may be pins, bolts, hinges, hooks, clips, or any othersuitable connectors. The links 46 may have equal lengths such that thesuspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 are offset from the span pipes 114,116, 118 an equal amount. The link 46 may be a rigid flat bar, tube,beam, or any other suitable member.

Installation of the suspended pipe assembly 10 will now be described indetail. First, the upper brackets 42 of the suspenders 22 may beconnected to the span pipes 114, 116, 118 and the lower brackets 44 maybe connected to the pipes 12, 14, 18. The pipes 12, 14, 18 may then belifted into position below the span pipes 114, 116, 118 while the links46 are connected between the upper brackets 42 and the lower brackets 44via the fasteners 48, 50 such that the pipes 12, 14, 18 are suspended adesired distance below the span pipes 114, 116, 118.

The fixed joint 16 may then be formed or installed between the first andsecond suspended pipe sections 12, 14. For example, the first and secondsuspended pipe sections 12, 14 may be heat welded or clamped together.The live joint 20 may then be connected between the second and thirdsuspended pipe sections 14, 18. Depending on its type and relativeposition in the suspended pipe assembly 10, the live joint 20 may needto be connected to one of the suspended pipe sections before theadjacent suspended pipe section is installed. The sprinklers 110 maythen be connected to the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 via thesprinkler openings 28, 34, 40.

The suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 may longitudinally expand andcontract due to changes in ambient temperature at different rates thanthe span pipes 114, 116, 118. The first suspended pipe section 12 andsecond suspended pipe section 14 will expand longitudinally outwardlyfrom the fixed joint 16, while the second suspended pipe section 14 andthe third suspended pipe section 18 will expand longitudinally towardseach other via the live joint 20. The links 46 of the suspenders 22 willpivot along the vertically extending plane via the fasteners 48, 50 suchthat the suspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 expand longitudinallywithout side-to-side buckling, warping, or “snaking”.

The suspended pipe assembly 10 has been described with only threesuspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 connected by a fixed joint 16 and alive joint 20. However, the suspended pipe assembly 10 can be expandedto include any number of suspended pipe sections with alternating fixedjoints and live joints such that each suspended pipe section is fixed toan adjacent suspended pipe section or other fluid-carrying component atone end and connected to an adjacent suspended pipe section or otherfluid-carrying component via a live joint at its other end.

The above-described suspended pipe assembly 10 provides many advantagesover conventional systems. For example, the suspenders 22 allow thesuspended pipe sections 12, 14, 18 to longitudinally expand in thedirection of live joints without side-to-side buckling, warping, or“snaking”. This prevents the development of leaks near the sprinkleropenings 28, 34, 40 and reduces stress on components of the suspendedpipe assembly 10 and the irrigation system 100. The links 46 of thesuspenders 22 may all be the same length so that the suspended pipesections 12, 14, 18 follow curvatures of the span pipes 114, 116, 118,which may simplify installation and maintenance.

Alternating between fixed joints and live joints allows the suspendedpipe assembly 10 to be expanded to any length of elevated pipe systemwithout adding complexity or unpredictability to the suspended pipeassembly 10. That is, the suspended pipe assembly 10 can be scaled toany desired length by repeating the pattern of suspended pipe sectionsand alternating fixed joints and live joints. The fixed joint 16 may bemade on-site, which simplifies transportation and assembly of the abovecomponents.

Although the invention has been described with reference to theembodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is notedthat equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:
 1. A suspended pipe assembly comprising: a pipe sectionconfigured to be suspended from a section of an elevated pipe, thesuspended pipe section having opposed first and second ends; and aplurality of suspenders configured to support the suspended pipe sectionbelow the elevated pipe, each suspender comprising a link connectedbetween the suspended pipe section and the elevated pipe, the link beingconfigured to move only in a substantially vertically extending planeextending substantially parallel to the elevated pipe so that thesuspended pipe section is configured to translate along thesubstantially vertically extending plane as the suspended pipe sectionexpands and contracts.
 2. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 1, thelink being selected from the group consisting of a rigid flat bar, arigid tube, and a rigid beam.
 3. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 1,wherein the links of the suspenders have equal lengths such that thesuspended pipe section is offset from the elevated pipe at equaldistances near the suspenders.
 4. The suspended pipe assembly of claim1, wherein the suspenders each further comprise: an upper bracketconfigured to connect the link to the elevated pipe; and a lower bracketconfigured to connect the link to the suspended pipe section, the linkbeing configured to pivot relative to the upper bracket and lowerbracket.
 5. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 4, wherein thesuspenders each further comprise a first fastener connecting the link tothe upper bracket and a second fastener connecting the link to the lowerbracket, the first fastener and second fastener extendingperpendicularly to the substantially vertically extending plane andbeing configured to prevent the link from moving out of thesubstantially vertically extending plane.
 6. The suspended pipe assemblyof claim 1, wherein one of the ends of the suspended pipe section ispart of a heat-fused joint.
 7. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 1,further comprising a live joint configured to connect one of the ends ofthe suspended pipe section to another suspended pipe section such thatthe connected end of the suspended pipe section is free to translatelongitudinally relative to the other suspended pipe section as thesuspended pipe sections expand and contract.
 8. The suspended pipeassembly of claim 7, wherein the live joint is a telescoping joint. 9.The suspended pipe assembly of claim 7, wherein the live joint is anexpanding bellows joint.
 10. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 7,wherein the live joint is a flexible joint.
 11. A suspended pipeassembly for use with an irrigation system having a plurality towers anda plurality of spans each extending between adjacent towers, each spanincluding a span pipe, the suspended pipe assembly comprising: a pipesection configured to be suspended from one of the span pipes, thesuspended pipe section having opposed first and second ends; and aplurality of suspenders configured to support the suspended pipe sectionbelow the span pipe, each suspender comprising a link connected betweenthe suspended pipe section and the span pipe, the link being configuredto move only in a substantially vertically extending plane extendingsubstantially parallel to the span pipe such that the suspended pipesection is configured to translate along the substantially verticallyextending plane as the suspended pipe section expands and contracts. 12.The suspended pipe assembly of claim 11, the link being selected fromthe group consisting of a rigid flat bar, a rigid tube, and a rigidbeam.
 13. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 11, wherein the links ofthe suspenders have equal lengths such that the suspended pipe sectionis offset from the span pipe at equal distances near the suspenders. 14.The suspended pipe assembly of claim 11, wherein the suspenders eachfurther comprise: an upper bracket configured to connect the link to thespan pipe; and a lower bracket configured to connect the link to thesuspended pipe section the link being configured to pivot relative tothe upper bracket and lower bracket.
 15. The suspended pipe assembly ofclaim 14, wherein the link is connected to the upper bracket via a firstfastener and connected to the lower bracket via a second fastener, thefirst fastener and second fastener extending perpendicularly to thesubstantially vertically extending plane and being configured to preventthe link from moving out of the substantially vertically extendingplane.
 16. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 11, wherein one of theends of the suspended pipe section is part of a heat-fused joint. 17.The suspended pipe assembly of claim 11, further comprising a live jointconfigured to connect one of the ends of the suspended pipe section toanother suspended pipe section such that the connected end of thesuspended pipe section is free to translate longitudinally relative tothe other suspended pipe section as the suspended pipe sections expandand contract.
 18. The suspended pipe assembly of claim 17, wherein thelive joint is a telescoping joint.
 19. The suspended pipe assembly ofclaim 17, wherein the live joint is an expanding bellows joint.
 20. Asuspended pipe assembly comprising: a pipe section configured to besuspended from a section of an elevated pipe, the suspended pipe sectionhaving opposed first and second ends; and a plurality of suspendersconfigured to support the suspended pipe section below the elevatedpipe, each suspender comprising a solid and inflexible link selectedfrom the group consisting of a rigid flat bar, a rigid tube, and a rigidbeam.
 21. A suspended pipe assembly for use with an irrigation systemhaving a plurality towers and a plurality of spans each extendingbetween adjacent towers, each span including a span pipe, the suspendedpipe assembly comprising: a poly pipe section configured to be suspendedfrom one of the span pipes, the poly pipe section having opposing firstand second ends; and a plurality of suspenders configured to support thepoly pipe section below the span pipe, the suspenders each comprising:an upper bracket configured to be connected to the span pipe; a lowerbracket configured to be connected to the poly pipe section; a rigidlink having opposing first and second ends; a first fastener connectingthe rigid link to the upper bracket near the first end of the rigidlink; and a second fastener connecting the rigid link to the lowerbracket near the second end of the rigid link, the rigid link beingconfigured to move relative to the upper bracket and the lower bracketonly in a substantially vertically extending plane extendingsubstantially parallel to the span pipe such that the lower bracket isconfigured to translate in the substantially vertically extending planeas the poly pipe section expands and contracts, the first fastener andsecond fastener being configured to prevent the rigid link from movingout of the substantially vertically extending plane, the rigid link ofeach suspender having equal lengths such that the poly pipe section isoffset from the span pipe at equal distances near the suspenders.